Let’s resume.

Now, the following hasn’t been told to me…at least not directly…

It was told to me by a friend. Or a friend of someone. I don’t really remember where, but I can tell you the drinks we’re strong.

Anyways

He showed up.

Pulling up into the driveway and walking up to the front door. Of course, she wasn’t expecting it; how could she? She was still under the influence of the bottle on her nightstand. And the blasting music only muted the world outside.

It was the knock that startled her.

Stumbling down the stairs, she caught sight of a figure through the window and quickly tried to mask her inebriated state. Brushing her fingers through her hair and spraying on whatever scented perfume she could find—only to grab a room spray and coat herself in floral mist.

It didn’t matter. As long as she didn’t reek of tequila and cigarettes, she thought.

When she opened the door, there he was, holding her phone out.

“¡Hola! Um… Tengo tu telé-phono,” David said, his voice bright and cheerful—too cheerful for her dark state.

She wished it was Arturo, but she wasn’t rude enough to show that. Instead, she politely smiled.

“David, muchas gracias,” she said, playing up her gratitude and keeping the Spanish charade. “¿Cómo puedo pagarte el favor?”

He grinned, refusing to back down, though his Spanish was atrocious. “Ha! I got this… um, uh, no… no dinero,” he stammered, his face breaking into a smile. Christina couldn’t help but giggle, charmed despite herself.

“Never mind. No, I don’t. But… don’t worry, I’m just happy to help,” he said, abandoning the language entirely but keeping his easy charm. “Maybe just don’t lose it again, huh?”

She wanted to say something flirty. Even more, she wanted to pull him inside and use him to drown out her pain.

But then she saw his car.

She yanked David inside, her pulse spiking. Christina didn’t know if she should hide him, use him, or push him out the back door before it was too late—

The doorknob turned.

It was Arturo.

Her heart dropped. David was still inside. There was no time to explain, all she could do was try not to let the rage out with David right there.